December 2017 Bar Bulletin
By Ron Nerio
The concepts of justice and compassion seem, too often, to be at odds with each other. The belief that justice is an unwavering, absolute principle is delivered to us from the time we are young and we are reluctant to abandon its appeal.
“Play fair” is an admonition preached in every school, church and household; its meaning is unambiguous. However, justice is not an inflexible, steel beam upon which a legal system is built; it is instead fluid and moldable.
It folds around individuals and actions, bent by public interest, need and our evolving sense of right and wrong. The juxtaposition of justice...